The Glass Key Page #3

That crazy kid. He never gets anything right.

A Mr Bowman, he told me.

You trying to give me the run-around

now that Paul's in trouble?

No, Ed, you know it's nothing like that.

Here, have a cigar.

You know, Ed,

there are some people who think

we're pretty slow in cleaning this murder up.

Yeah?

What have you got?

Here. Take a look at this.

Tell me what you think of it.

Now, I don't attach

any importance to that, Ed.

Nuts are always writing in

anonymous letters on every case.

Ed, for heaven's sakes, you don't think

I'd take that thing seriously, do you?

I just wanted to show it to you.

- You said anything to Paul?

- About the letter? No.

Well, don't.

- What's Nick Varna got?

- He's coming in to see me tomorrow.

Well, I've got to listen to him, Ed.

There's a lot of pressure on this case,

especially from The Observer.

And I can't just sit here and...

If Paul tells you to,

you'll sit, stand or ride a bicycle.

I'm District Attorney of this county! And I'll...

Well, of course, if you... If Paul...

- lf there's any real reason why I shouldn't.

- There isn't any reason.

And I wouldn't like you

to go around thinking there was.

And tonight I'd buy that bicycle.

(YELLING) Hey, get your paper.

Hey, read all about it.

"May call Madvig in Henry murder."

Hey, read all about it, extra, extra.

Hey, get your paper.

"May call Madvig in the Henry murder."

Hey, get your paper.

Hey, read about that Henry murder!

- See The Observer, Paul?

- Yeah.

Well?

Look, do we have to go through that,

"Well? Well what?" routine again?

Not if you don't want to.

Oh, Ed,

stop getting your tonsils in an uproar.

I've had the newspapers after me for years

and I'm still sitting pretty.

You ever tried sitting pretty

in an electric chair?

What are you trying to do, scare me?

The Observer's already talking about

a secret witness.

No, fiddle-faddle.

If Varna's got something,

he's gonna give it to the paper.

He's the one that's spreading all that dirt.

Patch up your trouble with him, Paul.

I'll patch up nothing

with that pop-eyed spaghetti-bender.

He's gotta learn that

when I say things are closed down,

they're closed down.

What's good enough for the old Eighth Ward

is good enough for anywhere, huh?

Well, the system has worked pretty good

up to now, ain't it?

- Sorry I bothered you with my nonsense.

- Nonsense is right.

And I don't wanna hear any more guff

about Nick Varna or Taylor Henry neither.

Okay, I'll see you don't have to.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Hello.

What is this, a social service call?

You don't like me, do you, Mr Beaumont?

I think I do.

I'm pleased.

Even with such qualified approval.

Why are you pleased?

For some obscure reason,

I think you're very nice.

Say the not so obscure reason.

I'd hoped you'd help me find

Taylor's murderer.

Do I look like a guy

that runs down murderers?

You look as though you could.

I'm sure you can tell me one thing

I want to know.

What?

- Did Paul kill him?

- No.

You're sure?

You know you're Paul's best friend,

and you found Taylor's body.

All right, let's have it.

- What?

- The letter. Come on, give.

I got one just like this.

Some half-witted crackpot.

But if it's not a crackpot, I've got to be sure.

Won't you help me?

No.

I see. You're afraid.

You think Paul'd misunderstand

because you're his friend.

Don't get any such corny ideas.

If I want to help you, or I wanted to,

it wouldn't make any difference

whose friend I was.

- But you said you liked me.

- Sure.

You're built well, got a pretty face,

nice manners.

But I wouldn't trust you outside of this room.

You're slumming,

and I don't go for slummers.

You think you're too good for me.

Well, sister, it so happens

I think I'm too good for you.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

- Who is it?

- Paul.

- Paul!

- In there.

Come in.

Hi, Ed.

Doing a little packing, huh?

Yeah.

- Where you going? New York?

- For a starter.

When you coming back?

One-way ticket.

- Hey, now, look, Ed, if I said anything...

- Got to stop by the jeweller's.

- Wanna come along?

- Yeah, sure.

Travelling alone, huh?

Let's get going.

New York. Kind of cold now.

- Sure you wanna go, huh?

- Tired of hick town stuff.

Meaning me, I suppose.

You know, Ed,

you're awful hard to get along with.

Never said I wasn't.

How about a drink? Sort of a farewell toast.

Okay.

- Hello, Paul.

- Hi, Paul.

- Hi, Ed.

- Hello, Paul.

Hi, guys.

Couple of beers.

Well, Ed,

I guess you don't think much of me

as a big time politician, do you?

- Figure it out for yourself.

- I've done all right.

I don't think I'm any Napoleon,

but I've come a long way

since the old Eighth.

You think you have.

What do you want me to do,

write Nick a love letter

and tell him all is forgiven?

Well, it wouldn't be a bad idea.

Look, Ed, all I know is,

when you start a fight, you finish it.

What are you sticking up for him for,

anyway?

I'm not sticking up for Nick.

I'm just tired of everybody outsmarting you,

that's all.

Who's outsmarting me?

All right, rubber-ears, come on.

Okay, spill it. Who's outsmarting me?

Do you have to ask that?

You're backing Reform

till you get yourself jockeying

into picking a fight with Nick.

And if that isn't enough,

you play ball with a guy

who'll dump you overboard

as soon as he's elected.

- All for a snooty dame that wouldn't look at...

- Cut it out!

- Well, I gotta be going.

- Oh, wait a minute, Ed.

- Take your hand off of me.

- Oh, now, cool off, will you? Come on.

- Let go.

- Sit down, Ed.

Get out. Get out!

- Beaumont's here.

- Good, send him in.

Come on in.

Thanks for trying to talk some sense

into Paul.

- I thought he was wrong.

- He'll know he was before I get through.

Now let's get one thing straight.

Is this split between you and Paul for good?

- You sent for me, didn't you?

- Yeah.

- I came, didn't I?

- Okay.

- Got any plans?

- Ticket to New York.

You can do yourself some good right here.

How?

You ought to know plenty

about Paul Madvig.

What's your proposition?

Thanks.

Why did Paul bump off young Taylor?

- Nice pooch. How old is he?

- Seven.

You haven't answered my question.

You haven't made your proposition.

I'll stake you

to the finest gambling place in town.

Let you run it to suit yourself

with plenty of protection.

Why would you be getting any protection?

You're not so hot for putting in with me,

are you?

Wasn't my idea.

Sit down.

I tell you what.

I'll give you 10 grand in cash right now,

10 more election night if we beat Paul

and the gambling house offer still goes.

What do I have to do?

Matthews, the publisher of The Observer,

is outside.

I want you to give him the lowdown on Paul,

and all the dirt on how he's running the city.

Most of it's just routine. Nothing to it.

All right. But there's something

in that Taylor Henry killing.

We could start with that.

- Maybe.

- You mean, we ought to start with 10 grand?

Thanks.

Now, I haven't got much time.

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